Boston to interview Phillies bench coach Mackanin

Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin is scheduled to interview today to become manager of the Boston Red Sox, general manager Ben Cherington confirmed yesterday to the Boston Globe.

Mackanin's name initially surfaced during the National League Division Series shortly after Terry Francona was fired.

Mackanin has been an interim big-league manager twice, with Pittsburgh in 2005 (12-14 record) and Cincinnati in 2007 (41-39). He also was a manager for 13 seasons in the minor leagues.

"I've always hoped that somebody would at least give me an interview," Mackanin told the Daily News during the NLDS. "Hell, I'm 60 years old, so sooner or later it's bound to happen. It's the top of the industry. There's only 30 jobs like that. I've managed my whole life, so it would be great. It would be fun to have the chance."

He has been Charlie Manuel's bench coach for three seasons. The entire Phillies coaching staff has agreed to contracts for next season.

The Red Sox also will interview Dale Sveum later in the week. Sveum was Boston's third-base coach in 2004 and '05, and has since been with Milwaukee in a variety of roles.

Reports indicate the Red Sox have a number of people to interview and the process could be extensive. That group could include Lehigh Valley manager Ryne Sandberg.

Cherington told reporters last week that there was a short list of candidates in the first round, but he did not want to disclose how many.

Seven Phillies were among 148 players officially declared free agents yesterday.

The list features shortstop Jimmy Rollins, leftfielder Raul Ibanez, righthanders Roy Oswalt, Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson, catcher Brian Schneider and first baseman Ross Gload.

Major League Baseball and the players association had agreed to push the date for players to be declared back by a day.

Teams have exclusive rights to negotiate with their own free agents through Wednesday. Players are eligible to negotiate and sign with any team beginning at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.